According to the Mayo Clinic, kidney stones are hard deposits that form inside of the kidneys. Kidney stones are made up of minerals and salts, and may result from a medical condition, medications, and even supplements. Even if you’ve never had a kidney stone, you’re likely familiar with how painful they are. Passing a kidney stone can cause discolored urine, pain in the back and sides, nausea, and vomiting.
The recommended daily amount (RDA) for vitamin C is 75 milligrams for women, 90 milligrams for men, and 120 milligrams for pregnant women. Exceeding 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C in a day can lead to headaches, cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea (via Mayo Clinic). According to Nebraska Medicine, too much vitamin C can cause kidney stones due to an increase in calcium salt excreted in the urine called oxalate. Oxalate is responsible for the formation of some kidney stones.
Most of us get enough vitamin C through our diets so supplementation usually isn’t needed. However, certain groups of people may be vitamin C deficient. Dr. Sarah Malik, a gastroenterologist at Nebraska Medicine said, “People who might be susceptible to vitamin C deficiency, such as smokers, people with severe intestinal malabsorption or cachexia and cancer patients might be at increased risk of vitamin C inadequacy, may benefit from the use of vitamin C supplements under a doctor’s supervision.”